Conservative MP, Michael Ellis, has defended his decision to accept two free tickets to watch Arsenal.
The Sun newspaper has included the Northampton North MP on a list of politicians who accept “freebies” from sports clubs.
But Mr Ellis told the Chron he only accepted the tickets to watch Arsenal play Montpellier from the directors’ box at The Emirates Stadium because he had done charity work for the club.
He said: “I’m frustrated by this, because I work really hard to keep my expenses low.
“I don’t claim anything for food, saving the taxpayer thousands of pounds over the course of this Parliament.
“I’ve also not claimed anything for travel, not one litre of petrol or taxi journey.
“And the only reason this has come out is because I put in on my register of interests.”
The tickets for the Arsenal directors’ box did not have a face value because they are not on sale to the general public. But Mr Ellis estimated the two tickets were worth a combined total of about £1,200.
The former barrister went to the match with a member of his Parliamentary staff after doing community work with Arsenal which saw him take a group of disadvantaged youngsters around Parliament and talk to them about the criminal justice system.
He said: “I did a bit of community work for Arsenal and they asked if I would like a couple of tickets to a match, so I took them up on it.
“I don’t support Arsenal, but I decided to go as it’s something I’ve not done before.”
The Champions League match against Montpellier on November 21 last year, was won 2-0 by Arsenal.